Guitar Lessons in Mount Vernon, VA

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

My background is partly as a local performer, and partly as a long-time music teacher. Teaching has allowed me to make thousands of meaningful connections with my students, both as a mentor and instructor, and has given my life purpose and meaning for over 15 years. Music in general has also allowed me to travel across the country, and given me the opportunity to experience the wonderful music of talented musicians both young and old, and has instilled in me a passion to put as much of that into the world as possible. Read More

Instruments: Guitar

My teaching experience dates back to a month after I picked up the guitar, when I started teaching a group of highschool friends how to play. Later, at the Field School, I created a club for other Field students to learn how to play guitar in a group setting. At the same time I took a job as a clerk at the local guitarshop and began teaching beginner students privately. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Trumpet Trombone Bass Guitar Euphonium Acoustic Guitar

While I am a classically trained musician, I believe that a student will best learn when presented with material that they are passionate about. A student's curiosity will drive learning far more than any other source, so any directions I can help foster in a student, I will take that opportunity. If students are struggling, I have a wealth of resources and materials of my own which I can offer for new routes of study, or lesson plans to stimulate learning. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Saxophone Bass Guitar Organ Music Keyboard

My approach actively tries to preserve and cultivate the original passions of music that lead students to seek lessons in the first place. The material we focus on (which also serves as the vehicle for learning about music-in-general) will be determined foremost by the students' interests. Students who are especially conducive or committed to book-learning and linear structure will be accommodated as well, and we will be largely centering Mark Levine's model. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Organ Conga Music Keyboard Djembe Acoustic Guitar

For beginning students who are children, I typically start with Alfred Piano Basics. Once the student has progressed to have a grasp of the fundamentals, I will begin to work from Czerny and introduce solo repertoire appropriate for their first recital performance. For adults, I try to find out what the student is interested in, and guide my instruction accordingly to keep the lessons engaging and fun, no matter their ability level. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar Synthesizer Accordion Harmonica Lap Steel Guitar Banjo Ukulele Mandolin Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion

As far as books go, I prefer the Hal Leonard method, especially for beginner musicians. I combine visual, audio and kinesthetic learning methods to tailor to anyone's needs. After the basics are taught or they're already learned, I assess the student's level and teach the student what they wish to learn to the best of my ability. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Drums Bass Guitar

On the first lesson, I like to help students create realistic, long-term goals for themselves. Then the student and I develop a plan to help them achieve them. Learning tools include method books, recordings of the lesson, and playing along with me. I also make solo pieces available, and encourage the student to participate in local recitals. My lessons generally follow the county public school's music curriculum and include rhythmic and melodic dictation, ear training, sightreading, theory and song form. Read More